Dubai School Of Government To Host Panel Discussion On Status Of Real Estate In Dubai

The Dubai School of Government, a research and teaching institution that focuses on public policy in the Arab world, today announced it will host a panel discussion on the nature of Dubai’s real estate boom and the measures initiated to help the industry mature during the recent challenging times.

Titled “New Foundations: Strengthening Real Estate in Dubai”, the panel discussion on 26 January will focus on the legal and regulatory context that allowed the boom to happen the way it did, and the recent measures intended to help it this sector mature. It will also to identify formal practices relating to the financing and planning of projects in Dubai’s freehold real estate market.

Speakers will include Marwan Bin Ghulaita, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate Regulatory Agency(RERA), Ludmila Yamalova, Managing Partner, HPL Yamalova & Plewka, George Shields ,Managing Director of BK Gulf, and Marios Maratheftis, Head of Research, Standard Chartered. Experts will address ongoing efforts by regulatory authorities to further standardise property transactions and identify solutions for reviving the market.

Dr Tarik Yousef, Dean of Dubai School of Government, said: “The real estate sector exemplifies the complexity of interaction between regulatory and policy making bodies, industry, the financial system and the general public. Through dialogue between representatives of a variety of sectors involved in the real estate sector, this panel discussion will give us a more holistic perspective on both the history and future of real estate in Dubai.”

The DSG event will also focus on the recent mortgage initiatives introduced by Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), and whether the new regulations will serve to increase confidence in the housing market.

Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is dedicated to the promotion of good governance through enhancement of the region’s capacity for public policy. The School collaborates with regional and global institutions in delivering its research and training programmes, and organises policy forums and international conferences to promote critical debate on public policy in the Arab world.

For more details, visit www.dsg.ae or call +9714 329 3290.
 

Du Signs Exclusive Agreement With Mohammed Bin Rashid School For Communication At The American University In Dubai

Uniting to broaden educational horizons for students in the UAE, du today signed an agreement with Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC) at the American University in Dubai (AUD) to provide a high-speed 100 Mbps broadband internet connection to students. The agreement was signed by du CEO Osman Sultan and Ali M Jaber, Dean of Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at AUD. The high-speed internet connection will enable AUD MBRSC to offer real-time video streaming for education and training purposes, and meet its other internet-based needs.

“We are delighted to support the Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication at AUD, which is emerging as a leading school in the field of mass media and communication. Supporting education is at the heart of our CSR strategy, and using our expertise in telecoms we are striving to enhance and improve the development of young people in the UAE. By offering a superior internet connectivity we believe AUD MBRSC students will be able to connect with the world quickly and efficiently,” commented Osman Sultan, Chief Executive Officer, du.

du’s 100 Mbps broadband connection will be used to support the new multimedia programmes that AUD MBRSC will be offering. These programmes involve digital editing and productions, multimedia streaming, film editing and uploading, broadcasting and online multimedia learning and teaching. The enhanced connectivity will meet the school’s bandwidth-intensive activities, including video streaming, remote access and interactivity.

The communication field is probably the fastest developing field in the world. Keeping up with its rapid transformation is the duty of every academic institution keen on providing proper journalism and communication education.

“Internet and new media, we believe, will be the backbone of every communication platform in the near future, and therefore it is only natural for us to seek partnership with du – one the most prominent telecommunication company in the Arab world, to provide us with the required bandwidth that will enable our students to explore the new capabilities modern technology will bring. Our students will be on an information super highway that will enable them among other things to converse via video and attend distance learning classes in crisp quality,” commented Ali M Jaber, Dean, Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at AUD.

An average household in Dubai uses about 1 MB of internet link and a small to medium sized company in Dubai would use around 30-50 MB. Therefore, 100 Mbps will change the way communication is taught and allow the MBRSC students at AUD to further their education in Communication and Information Studies with on-the-spot downloads and smooth and quick internet browsing while in class.

 

Cass Business School Launches Short Courses At Dubai Campus

Cass Business School, which is part of City University London, today announced the launch of short courses from its DIFC campus. The short courses are electives forming part of the Cass Executive MBA (EMBA) programme in Dubai but are now being offered for the first time to non-EMBA students interested in the study of specialist subject areas. The new courses offered include regionally relevant subjects such as Oil and Energy, Global Real Estate Markets and Islamic Finance and Economics. Other courses designed to respond to regional business demand include Private Equity, Relationship Management and Marketing, Sports Business, Family Business, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Managing Strategic Change and Leadership and Change Management.

The workshops are taught by London-based, world-renowned professors flying to Dubai from the UK to teach students each month. Cass’ lecturers all possess a balance of practical business experience and academic leadership. Many continue to consult with leading corporations and contribute significantly to industry organisations, as well as international academia in addition to their Cass commitments, ensuring that they remain up-to-date with current business issues and trends. Professors due to visit Dubai to take the Cass EMBA Elective workshops include Professor Veronica Hope Hailey; the Associate Dean for Cass MBA programmes, who will take the upcoming Leadership and Change Management course in May. Professor Vangelis Souitaris will be flying out to the Cass DIFC campus in April to take the Innovation and Entrepreneurship course, and the Finance Faculty’s Tony Key, Professor of Real Estate Economics, will arrive in Dubai in May to take the Global Real Estate course.

Ehsan Razavizadeh, Regional Director of Cass Business School in Dubai, said: “The full EMBA course takes place over two years and might seem a daunting commitment for a busy business executive. The short course programme is a great way for business executives to ‘test the waters’ to gain a better insight into whether EMBA study is something that is feasible and beneficial for them. The workshops will provide a great opportunity to network with current students and alumni, and also experience first-hand the superior teaching and world-class faculty staff at Cass.”

Participants successfully completing the Cass short courses will receive a certificate from the elite business school, which is consistently ranked highly in international indices; in terms of reputation the Financial Times recently ranked Cass Business School’s Executive MBA programme second in the UK, fourth in Europe and tenth in the world. Executives electing to enrol in the September 2011 EMBA intake can also reclaim the full cost of any short course taken against EMBA study fees.

Razavizadeh continued, “The introduction of Short Courses at Cass is something that we are very excited about. At Cass we place a great deal of emphasis on continuous learning; it helps to increase skills and adds weight to résumés in what has become a very competitive marketplace. The region’s job market has become more crowded in the aftermath of the global economic downturn, and employers are much more specific and selective when it comes to hiring. With hundreds of applicants for each open position, candidates need to stand out in every possible respect. Evidence of advanced learning from a reputable school such as Cass can supply that extra edge”.

The Cass Business School Executive MBA programme in Dubai was launched in 2007 and has successfully recruited its fourth cohort in September, with student admissions to the EMBA programme growing by 90 per cent in the last four years. To apply, call Cass Business School Dubai on +971 4 401 9318 or email dubaicentre@city.ac.uk

 

Roads Traffic, Community Development, And Knowledge Authorities Agree To Set Conditions For School Bus Conductors

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Community Development Authority and Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai have announced the launch of a joint initiative specifying the conditions required to be satisfied by school bus conductors; which will be applicable starting from the next school year 2011 – 2012.

An announcement to this effect was made during a meeting that His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, has recently held with His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Karam, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Knowledge & Human Development Authority; and His Excellency Khalid Al Kamda, Director General of Community Development Authority; in the presence of the CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari and a number of directors from the three authorities.

Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer said: “This initiative comes in implementation of the School Transport Order in Dubai Emirate issued by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, providing in one of its clauses for appointing at least one conductor for each school bus”.

“RTA has examined the current situation as regards school bus conductors in Dubai Emirate and reviewed the prerequisites for practicing the school bus conductors’ profession in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong to familiarize with the best global practices and experiences in this field.

The meeting agreed to a package of conditions that should be satisfied by school bus conductors. These include
obliging schools to post a conductor on each school bus and a woman conductor on any bus carrying pupils from the kindergartens up to the sixth primary class. The same applies to buses designated to carry female students or mixed male and female students up to the General Secondary stage.

The three authorities also agreed to allow schools to use their administrative or teaching staff satisfying the conditions to work as school bus conductors, and to amend the conditions required to be satisfied by female conductors such that they will not less than 25 years of age with an educational background not lower than the General Secondary Certificate, priority to be given to holders of a Bachelor Degree in Educational disciplines. The conductor has to be well mannered with no judicial claims or criminal offences filed against him/her. The appointed conductor should produce a proof of his/her medical fitness from an approved authority within the Emirate, and must have a permit issued by RTA’s Public Transport Agency allowing him/her to practice the profession. The conductor should be well conversant with the school transport law, first aid, and have attended specialist courses delivered by the Public Transport Agency.

The meeting agreed to form a work team comprising representatives of the three Authorities to cater to the implementation of these stipulations, and roll out a joint campaign to spread the awareness of the school transport system throughout various schools.

It is noteworthy than the School Transport Order in Dubai Emirate prohibits the practicing of students transport activity without obtaining a prior permit. It obliges operators to appoint at least one conductor per bus to ensure the compliance with the stipulations & requirements that have to be in place in school buses, be it hired or owned. The Order bans the driving of a school bus by anyone not holding a valid permit, and authorizes RTA Public Transport Agency to grant operation permits and school bus driver permits according to the conditions set in the Executive Regulation, provided such permits to be valid for one year renewable for a similar period.

The Order obliged the operators to deploy buses fulfilling the approved safety standards and technical specifications such as the exterior and interior bus design, equip each bus with an automatic shaft fitted with a signboard to be operated when the vehicle stops to pick up or drop off students, and ensure that the expression ‘School Bus’ is written on all buses used for this purpose.

The Order obliged operators to serve the special needs students through fitting school buses with the required accessories to the standards that suit the health status of this category, besides obliging drivers to wear official uniforms and refrain from smoking, eating and drinking in transit.
 

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Interacts With School Students In The UAE

Students across the UAE rejoiced as they met with the eleventh President of India, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. Popularly known as the People’s President during his period on of presidency, Dr. Kalam visited the J.S.S. International School in Al Barsha, Dubai, where he interacted with students from across the UAE.

In a statement, Mr. Guruswami Kalloor, CEO, J.S.S. International School, said: “It is a great honor for us to have Dr. Kalam join us at the school today and interact with the children. Students from schools across the UAE have joined us, showing immense enthusiasm in meeting with Dr. Kalam. The children have put forth many interesting questions for the former President, abiding the faith he has in the role children play towards to positive future of the country.”

JSS Private School (JSSPS) is run by the internationally renowned JSS Mahavidyapeetha (JSS MVP), a socio-cultural Institution (Trust) that has dedicated itself to the development of culture, literature and education for the prosperity of society in general and serves as a tool for social change.

“At J.S.S International, we are committed to building and shaping every child’s future. A meeting with a legendary personality like Dr. Abdul Kalam would leave a deep impression in the minds of the young students. He is a big inspiration to all of us, especially the students, having set a bench mark for humility and leading the nation.”

JSS employs a holistic approach to education to empower individuals to become caring, competent and responsible citizens who value education as a lifelong process. This promotes the student’s intellectual, physical, moral and social development; realizing and optimizing each student’s potential.

The school recently announced that it is soon to expand its reach in Dubai with a second school campus in Al Safa, in order to cater to the increasing demands of the 2011 academic year.

Spread over a vast area, the school has state-of-the-art facilities that include well equipped laboratories, library, ample play areas including football grounds, tennis courts, swimming pool, etc.
 

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover, And Never Judge A Childs Success By Their School Grades Alone

A child can be intelligent enough to get ‘A’ grades or 4.0 GPAs, however, they may lack the creative skills to make a conversation with all their knowledge. The brightest student in a classroom can be the most anti-social and introvert too. This is where the importance of creativity and risk-taking is highlighted. Kids’ Theatre Works! offers a wide selection of Fun and Inspiring Musical Theatre, Acting and Creative Drama classes to kids in Dubai aged 3-18. Here, your child can learn, innovate, and create, while taking risks.

Creative thinking is necessary for every individual to step out of the boundaries of ‘right or wrong’ they learn in school and to generate new ideas. Kids’ Theatre Works! Students take their own unique individuality and make something brand new; they understand that there are no boundaries to what you can do with drama, and you can take it anywhere. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s future, it is necessary for them to think for themselves and not be told what to do at all times. Being involved in Drama and theatre arts ensures that participating kids grow up ‘thinking outside the box’ and develop their creative thinking skills which is now a requirement in most job descriptions! Kids’ Theatre Works! has many courses that are not only enjoyable for the kids but also encourage them to come out of their shells with a sense of curiosity that leads to a new found awareness of relating to others, problem solving, trusting, risk taking and independent thought.

As Sir Ken Robinson says “creativity is as important as literacy”. One should never limit human capacity to education; innovation in education is hard because it means challenging what we think is obvious and therefore one can get ‘educated out of creativity’. Many kids can be frightened of being ‘wrong’ and therefore never experiment or even try to communicate their opinions. Kids Theatre Works! believes Drama and Theatre Arts Courses can directly help children being more creative and outgoing which in turn will help them later in life. It is necessary for the parents of this generation to understand that a child’s future success is not determined only by their school grades; As Kids’ Theatre Works! Founder Emily Madghchian says “You can achieve the 100% in all your school tests and exams right through to PHD level, but that won’t guarantee you will be a success in your chosen field. In this world of ours where things change so quickly, our kids need to be able to rely on skills such as resilience, improvisation, risk taking and human interaction to have a chance of stepping out on the right foot.”

The education system worldwide has a ranking of subjects with maths and languages first, then humanities and lastly Arts with Drama and Dance being the lowest of ranking. We need to rethink the fundamental principles on which we are educating our children, by incorporating more creativity into their lives.

Kids Theatre Works! established in Dubai in 2002 by Emily Madghachian, Founder and Artistic Director.

The school now operates from DUTAC at Mall of the Emirates with over 400 students starting from the age of 3 years old. All Kids Theatre Works! Students go on to the stage to perform creative drama.

So ask yourself, how do you as parents prepare your children for the future? Kids Theatre Works! help children think for themselves, problem solve, listen to others, gain confidence and explore their own imaginations for the wealth of possibilities that .

“All children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up” Pablo Picasso
 

Prime Minister Of Kenya In Dubai To Announce First GEMS School In Africa In Partnership With MenaLink

The Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, announced today that GEMS Education will build its first school in Africa in partnership with MenaLink Holdings. The international school will be located in Nairobi, Kenya- the political, economic and financial hub of East Africa- and is set to be the region’s leading educational institution. It marks GEMS’ first entry into Kenya.

In attendance for the announcement was H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, the UAE Minister of Education and H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, Minister of Health.

The Prime Minister said, “Today I visited two GEMS international schools and saw children from over 90 nationalities. It is clear that this global education company is supplying high quality education to the children in its schools. In announcing their flagship school, I am pleased that they will soon be enhancing the standard of education in Kenya as well.”

“In coordination with MenaLink, who has been advising and assisting us through their Socio-Economic Development Initiative in Kenya (SEDIK), we have identified best-of-breed partners like GEMS that will share in and benefit from this Vision”.

The Prime Minister said that education was at the core of Kenya’s ambition to achieve the development objectives as outlined in Kenya Vision 2030. Kenya Vision 2030 is an economic, social and political development blueprint that seeks to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country by the year 2030.

Mr. Sunny Varkey, Founder and Chairman of GEMS Education said, “Our goal is to support the Kenyan Government wherever we can, whether it be in the private or public sector, to achieve its vision for the education sector. We will harness the full range of educational resources across the GEMS global network to make this international school the very best school in Kenya. A quality education impacts not only the child receiving that education, but the child’s family and the broader community.”

Mr. Rafi Nourafchan, Managing Director of MenaLink Holdings said, “By working closely with governments, we have promoted technology transfer to, as well as foreign direct investment and capacity building in, emerging markets to develop profitable and socially responsible businesses. Our investment into Kenya is underscored by our commitment to excellence as shown by our partnership with GEMS. We selected GEMS to serve as strategic educational partner due to its position as the world’s leading, private educational provider.”

GEMS Education, is a Dubai based company and the world’s largest kindergarten to grade 12 private educational provider, who is working with MenaLink Holdings, an integrated holding company that structures, finances and manages international business transactions.

The GEMS International school in Nairobi, Kenya will establish itself as the region’s leading educational institution. It will offer a British/IB curriculum with state of the art facilities catering to 2,000 students.
 

Dubai School Of Government Event To Focus On Developing New Business Links Between GCC And India And China

The Dubai School of Government (DSG), a leading research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, today announced it will host a panel discussion highlighting the changing dynamics driving trade between the GCC and Asian countries.

Titled ‘Building Bridges through Business: China, India and the GCC’, the event will be held on March 7, starting at 6:30 pm, in collaboration with APCO Worldwide, an award-winning, independently owned, global communications consultancy. The panel discussion will highlight the private sector’s leading role in driving the development of new business ties between the regions. Four panelists will represent the GCC, Chinese and Indian perspectives.
Margery Kraus, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, APCO Worldwide, will be part of the panel. Other panelists will include Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary of India, and James McGregor, journalist, author and China specialist. Tariq Lootah, Executive President of Dubai School of Government, will moderate the interactive discussion.

The panelists will examine the untapped resources available to help GCC-based businesses expand into the Chinese and Indian markets. They will also highlight common misconceptions and the least understood aspects about doing business in the GCC, China and India, as well as the social and cultural initiatives that can effectively prepare public audiences for increased interaction.

Government policy changes that would directly boost private sector ties between the regions will also be discussed, along with implications for the GCC and Chinese sovereign wealth funds.

Tariq Lootah said: “At DSG, we strongly believe in the importance of bridging cultures and promoting Dubai’s role as a strategic hub for global commerce and industry. By providing a platform for an informed dialogue on business relations between the GCC, China and India, we seek to increase the awareness of policy makers, thought leaders and the general public about these crucial relationships.”

The India-GCC Strategic Partnership Study Group held in Riyadh late last year placed the trade exchange between India and the GCC countries above AED235 billion in 2009, whereas the global consultancy firm McKinsey forecasts trade between China and the GCC to more than triple to touch at least AED1.28 trillion in the next decade.

Statistics released by Dubai Customs in January 2011 show India holding the biggest share of non-oil trade transactions, valued at AED123 billion, or 26 per cent of the total. China is the Dubai’s second largest non-oil trade partner, with a total of AED37 billion.

Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is committed to the creation of knowledge, and dissemination of global best practices in the Arab world. The school conducts various programmes that seek to enhance the region’s capacity for effective public policy.
 

Edexcel Celebrates First Batch Of BTEC In Schools Graduates At GEMS Cambridge International School In Dubai

Edexcel, the UK’s largest awarding body, has announced that the first batch of UAE BTEC in Schools students will graduate this year from GEMS Cambridge International School.

The announcement was made during a recent visit to the school by Mr. Martin Cross, Chairman of Edexcel. GEMS Cambridge International is the first school in the UAE to implement BTEC in schools.

Mark Andrews, Regional Director, Middle East/North Africa/Caribbean, Edexcel, said: “We are proud to announce that BTEC is becoming more popular amongst schools as it is an internationally recognized vocational qualification where holders are eligible for an entry into a variety of undergraduate programs in universities across the world.”

“We at Edexcel recommend that schools, colleges as well as local governments and businesses should work together to collectively promote this qualification, and ensure that learners gain the qualities valued by employers. This only can come through the effective implementation qualifications such as BTEC in Schools,” Andrews added.

Edexcel’s exclusive BTEC qualifications provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside theoretical background. They are designed both to replicate the professional working environment and provide learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to succeed in today’s job market. Various opportunities for higher education are available for BTEC HND holders in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia.

Commenting on the visit of Mr. Cross, Mrs. Sandra Carter, Assistant Principal and Head of Strategic Curriculum Development, GEMS Cambridge International School, said: “We are delighted with the visit of Mr. Cross to the school. It reflects Edexcel’s keenness to contribute to the educational development in the UAE. We have been providing the BTEC qualification for over one year now for more than 100 students in Business, Media, Travel & Tourism, Sports and IT. We expect to launch the Performing Arts qualification in September of 2011.”

“The first batch of 13 students will graduate this year to hold the sought-after BTEC certificate. We expect these students to become more creative in terms of delivering high value work in different fields.”

“We have faith in Edexcel not only because it is a part of the world’s largest provider of education services, Pearson, but also because it has proved successful in putting business and education on the same track,” added Carter.

Mr. Cross was escorted by other senior officials of Edexcel on the tour, including Mr. Nigel Kelly, Vice President International Schools, Pearson Education, and Mrs. Simone Taghizadeh, Middle East and North Africa Academic Regional Development Manager, Edexcel.
 

The Barcelona Soccer School In Dubai Partners With GEMS Education

The Barcelona Soccer School in Dubai has announced its partnership with GEMS Education for a fresh season of football training at the new football pitch located at the Wellington International School, Sheikh Zayed Road.

Seif Tawfik, Managing Director, Barcelona Soccer School said: “Through our partnership with GEMS education we are now in the prime position to strengthen the reputation of our school. Additionally, through the GEMs network, we now have the opportunity to reach out to a larger number of children offering them a chance to follow their dreams on and off the pitch.”

The Barcelona Soccer School in Dubai, which caters to both boys and girls, aged four to sixteen, started in 2008; within a year the attendance had reached over 250 students, with this number a doubling year on. The school follows the official FC Barcelona curriculum, which is implemented by Spanish Technical Director Ruben Della Morte. As part of this programme, children are taught both on and off the pitch, learning techniques that are instrumental in their development to become develop into accomplished and confident players.

FCBEscola is FC Barcelona’s own soccer school and its main objective is the integrated training of its pupils. Barcelona Soccer School in Dubai, which is managed by Stryx Gulf Sports Marketing, conducts thrice weekly trainings from 5.30pm until 8.00pm and hosts matches on Friday mornings. Each member of the school is provided with two FCBEscola training kits and one FCBEscola match kit along with an FCBEscola bag. The school also runs two international tournaments along with a summer camp to Barcelona.

FC Barcelona has won numerous titles for its achievements over the years such as two UEFA Champions League Cups and four UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups apart from two Super European Cups.

Barcelona Soccer School in Dubai has also launched its brand new website www.fcbescoladubai.com.